The SWDMBA consists of a group of Baptist Churches located in Western Tennessee which have fellowship one with the other because we embrace the same faith, doctrine, and order of worship. Each church is sovereign and completely governs their own body of believers. The SWDMBA is a fellowship association which gathers once a year for a two day session of worship. The first meeting of this association occurred in 1846 at Mount Comfort Missionary Baptist Church. Before 1846 these churches were part of the Western District Association which was organized in 1822 and is one of the oldest associations in the state of Tennessee. Prior to the Western Association we trace our origins to North Carolina and West Virginia. At this time in history these states were still colonies under England. It was in these colonies that the Baptist patriot, Patrick Henry, defended the Baptist preachers before the colonial officers who were appointed by England. It was in these colonies that we find Thomas Jefferson making inquiry about the government of Baptist churches and associations that he might obtain a model after which to assist in forming the government of the United States of America. The oldest Baptist association in the United States is the Philadelphia Association.